SHAWNEE, OK—FEBRUARY 3, 2015—Triangle Sales’ new ownership implemented changes for the first sale of 2015, and the results indicate positive results.

Lot 228 One Fabulous Time topped the sale, and became the No. 1 Triangle Sales all-time high seller with a bid of $125,000. Consigned by Larry and Michelle Rice’s Flag Ranch LLC, the 2008 stallion was purchased by Juan Pablo Balleza Patino.

“We were really pleased with the first one, and we are going to keep moving forward,” Ware said. “I couldn’t be happier with the results. We had outstanding horses to sell and people turned out to buy. We had beautiful weather for the weekend – you just don’t expect that kind of weather in January in Oklahoma. We couldn’t have kicked things off better and it’s the beginning of some big things.”

With 733 horses catalogued, the winter sale saw a completed sales rate of 85 percent. The overall average for the sale was $6,500. The top 10 averaged $52,500, the top 50 averaged $25,508, and the top 100 averaged $18,091. With almost every Quarter Horse discipline offered in the sale, buyers flocked to the sale. The estimated attendance was 5,000 over the three days, and the sale had 643 buyers that travelled from 34 states and three foreign countries. Triangle offered “click to bid” internet purchasing options through Superior Productions, and an additional 7,772 people tuned in through that medium.

“We are fortunate to be able to offer many different kinds of horses,” Ware said. “This was the type of sale I grew up attending – good horses for multiple disciplines. We had cutters, ranchers, reiners, cow horses, ropers, sorters, trail and family horses. It was a live picture of the Quarter Horse, true versatility. That has always been the foundation of Triangle, and we just hope to build on it.”

Ware continued, “Our first barrel session was well received, and we have plans to offer a Future Fortunes Session in upcoming sales that will feature nominated horses and mares in foal to the Future Fortunes subscribed stallions.”

Live demonstrations on the roping and barrel horses were provided so buyers could see horses working. All buyers had peace of mind through free and immediate fall-of-hammer insurance offered by Markel that was in effect for 24 hours or until the horse left the grounds.

Another new feature at the sale was the simulated sale cow for cutting demonstrations. “Cindy," the custom made track cow, allowed horses to showcase their talents while eliminating cattle charges to sellers as well as the disruption and time caused by cattle changes. “In all my years of sale production, I have never seen anything that helped show off a cutter’s talents like our track cow. The perfect situation is created, and every horse and rider have the same fair chance. Our business is to sell horses, not put on a show, and nothing helps sell horses like that cow,” Ware explained.

“We are trying to provide sellers and buyers with a few little extra things that make them comfortable and want to come back. We call that lagniappe in Louisiana,” added Ware, who is a native of that colorful state.

Even further to focus on the goal to make selling fast and easy, consignors were paid within five banking days.

Ware concluded, “The market and the location contribute to the overall focus which is to present an all-around Quarter Horse sale. Your No. 1 source for America’s horse – that’s what we want to be.”

The next sale, the Mid-Winter Sale on February 27-28, will have something for everyone – just a smaller version of the January sale. During the Triangle Spring Sale, which will be held May 1-3, people can expect the same type of consignments as previous sales but with the introduction of the first Spring Mare Market and a special emphasis on Team Sorting.

For more information about upcoming sale dates, visit trihorse.com or jimware.net.